Pesticide ban, migrant worker pay on House Ag agenda/ Civil rights amendment on Senate calendar

by Guy Page

Chiefs of Vermont’s 96 volunteer fire companies met with lawmakers Tuesday morning at the Vermont State House, sharing coffee and candid concerns about the future of the state’s largely volunteer fire service.

Staffing topped the list of challenges facing local departments. Fire chiefs said the traditional model of hometown volunteers — the local store owner, farmers, and the postmaster dropping everything to respond to a call — has eroded as more Vermonters commute out of town for work. With fewer residents working close to home during the day, response times can be strained and ties between volunteers and their communities have weakened.

“The town is very supportive of us, budget wise. Our volunteers, however, are lacking in the daytime, specifically. The majority of our people who work, work during the daytime,” said Aaron Kerber, chief of the Poultney Fire Department.

As a result, departments rely more heavily than ever on mutual aid agreements, in which neighboring towns pledge to assist each other on emergency calls. Chiefs said those partnerships have become essential to maintaining adequate coverage, particularly for daytime incidents.

To help recruit and retain members, many volunteer departments now provide a minimum-wage stipend for time spent responding to calls. Chiefs acknowledged the payments do not truly compensate volunteers for time taken away from family events or for middle-of-the-night alarms. However, the stipends at least offset transportation costs and offer a modest boost to household budgets.

In Poultney, stipend checks are issued December 1, just ahead of the holiday season. Kerber said the timing is intentional, giving volunteers extra help with gift purchases and seasonal expenses.

In larger communities, the challenge can look different. Bill Lovett of the Rutland City Fire Department said staffing there is stable, but financial pressures persist.

“We’re always looking to be creative,” Lovett said, describing the ongoing effort to balance equipment, training and operational needs within tight municipal budgets.

Despite differing local circumstances, chiefs agreed on one point: Vermont’s fire service depends on the continued commitment of volunteer responders and strong partnerships among towns to meet growing demands.

No action today on Proposal 4, constitutional amendment on civil rights – Proposal 4, “Declaration of rights; government for the people, equality of rights” is on the Senate notice calendar. It will likely be up for a vote next week. The bill adds sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and national origin to the list of persons with protected civil rights.

Paraquat ban to come before House Agriculture – A ban on the pesticide paraquat is up for discussion in the House Agriculture Committee today. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Esme Cole (D) of Hartford. Ban supporters cite studies showing a link between Parkinson’s disease and paraquat exposure. Other studies dispute any causal connection.

House Ag also will discuss a bill giving farm workers minimum wage and housing rights.